Anjerika, a 54-year-old woman from Uganda, has had a hernia for seven years. Her condition-- in which a portion of her intestine bulges through an opening in the abdominal wall-- causes her pain that has kept her from working and prevented her from walking to her garden to pick food. Anjerika is a widow, and lives with her 32-year-old son. Both of them are subsistence farmers, growing maize, bananas, and rice. When she is feeling well and finishes her work at home, Anjerika likes to join the other women at her church to help with community cleaning. When she is at church, she forgets all about her problems and pain. Anjerika also enjoys singing in the church choir and weaving mats. For $208, Anjerika can receive hernia repair surgery, during which doctors will return the herniated intestinal tissue to her abdominal cavity and mend the opening in the abdominal wall. Though she cannot afford the total cost of the surgery, Anjerika has contributed $8 for her treatment. When she gets well, Anjerika is looking forward to growing enough food for her family and selling the surplus. With the extra money that she makes, she hopes to renovate her house. Anjerika would like to say thank you to all the donors helping to fund her operation.

Sainy is a six-year-old boy from Cambodia, currently in first grade. He has one brother, and enjoys staying at home and working on his writing homework and playing with neighboring children. Sainy's left patella (kneecap) dislocated when he was three years old as result of a poorly administered thigh injection. It is difficult for him to walk and he experiences pain when walking long distances. After traveling for three hours with his mom to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he will receive the treatment he needs to walk comfortably again. Surgeons at CSC will surgically realign his patella by reconstructing the ligaments that hold the kneecap in place. The surgery and a two-day recovery in the hospital will cost $392. Let's help make it possible!

Meet Jaikala, a 24-year old mother from Nepal that has recently given birth to a baby girl. “Her family tends to the farm to make a living and her husband is a seasonal migrant to India who works as a labourer,” says our medical partner, Possible. Jaikala's ring finger has been swelling, worsened by a local remedy that has dried her finger to the bones and turned the skin “charcoal black,” says Possible. This has caused Jaikala immense pain as well as a burning sensation in her finger. Jaikala got treatment too late to save the finger, and she now needs the finger amputated. “Once her finger is amputated, Jaikala will have healthy skin over it. Because it's her ring finger in the left hand, she can do most of her activities without feeling pain or burning sensation,” says Possible. $220 will fund the procedure to amputate her finger. This includes costs for medicine as well as the surgical costs required. Jaikala says, “I feel so helpless seeing other people do my work. As soon as my finger heals, I want to jump to work immediately.”

James, a seven-year-old boy from Kenya, is the youngest of five siblings and loves football. His mother is a farmer and his father works on construction sites to support their family. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares that James was born with a small anal opening and had a colostomy done right after he was born. Recently he had a pull-through procedure to reposition his anus and minimize damage to surrounding structures. However, he needs one final surgery to ensure he heals properly. Currently James undergoes anal dilation to prevent scar tissue from closing the newly created anus. His final surgery will be a colostomy closure, and the treatment cost is $1260. AMHF tells us: "He suffers stomach upsets. James is at risk of suffering constipation and bowel perforation because of inability to pass stool normally. Due to the nature of his condition, James has not been enrolled in a learning institution." "James is a brilliant child. I can’t wait to see him attend school. He is my joy and I hope he gets treated," James' mother exclaims.

Bye Kon, a 56-year-old woman in Cambodia, lives with her husband and son. Bye Kon and her husband fish to make a living, and her son works as a religious education teacher. According to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), Bye Kon noticed an unusual mass in her abdomen about eight months ago. When the mass began to grow and become more painful, Bye Kon went to the clinic and was diagnosed with a uterine myoma. A uterine myoma is a non cancerous growth on the uterus that causes severe abdominal pain. Bye Kon's clinic was unable to perform surgery and instead administered medicine and sent her home. Since then, Bye Kon has been constantly worried about her condition and unable to eat or sleep very well. "She said in the past she was big and now she has lost so much weight. Bye Kon says that she does as best as she can with her condition, but it has become considerably more difficult for her lately," BBP adds. "She says that she wants to be healthy." With $1,500, doctors will be able to remove the mass in Bye Kon's abdomen so that she can return to a fully healthy and active life. "I cannot wait for the surgery; I want to be better soon," says Bye Kon. "I am so grateful for the treatment."

Meet Sera, a 46-year-old mother of five from Kenya. “Sera sells roasted maize and washes clothes to earn a living,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “She lives with her two youngest children who are fully dependent on her.” Sera has fibroids, which cause her severe abdominal pain. “The pain is so bad that Sera often has to miss work,” says AMHF. “She started having lower abdominal pain and back aches some time ago. When the pain became too much and over the counter medication no longer helped, Sera sought medical care.” “After a scan showed that she had fibroids and would need surgery, Sera has been working hard to raise the money needed for her treatment, but she is unable to raise enough money needed for this surgery,” says AMHF. With $800, Sera will be able to receive a total abdominal hysterectomy. The surgery will stop the pain and allow Sera to return to work and care for her family. "The pain causes me to miss work and turn down cleaning jobs,” shares Sera. “I want to be able to work well again.”

"Alex is an energetic, 11-year-old boy," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "He is the seventh born in a family of nine children. Alex is in primary school." Alex was born with congenital gigantism of the first, second and third digits of his left foot. The digits continue to increase in size as Alex grows. Alex cannot wear shoes, and feels different from other kids. "The long distance walk to school is sometimes a problem for him due to the size of his foot, but Alex doesn’t like missing classes at all," AMHF continues. "He enjoys science subjects and also likes to draw. His father passed away, leaving his mother and children. Alex’s mother does small business of selling green vegetables and fruits. She is doing the best she can to raise her children." Alex would like to be able to wear shoes and comfortably walk to school like other children. For $1,035, we can fund surgery to correct his gigantism and allow him to walk normally. Let's help make it happen!

Meet Ian, a 13-month-old baby boy from Uganda. Our medical partner, Kellermann Foundation (KF) explains that Ian lives with his mother—a single parent—and his older sister. To support her family, KF tells us, “[Ian’s] mother is a farm laborer and sometimes weaves mats for sale.” Due to malnutrition, Ian has faced development problems early into his childhood growth. Malnutrition occurs when the body does not receive as many essential nutrients as it needs to be healthy. Ian’s nutrient imbalance has also led to a condition known as oedema—a condition caused by a protein deficiency that leads to fluid build up in cavities throughout the body, causing massive swelling. Without intervention, Ian is at risk of further health complications. As KF states, “The short term effects of malnutrition include lowered immunity to diseases, respiratory complications, diarrhea, and lethargy. Long term effects include stunting and developmental delays.” However, with $375 in funding, Ian will receive a therapeutic milk treatment to address his malnutrition and oedema. Therapeutic milk is a nutrient-rich food supplement that will gradually introduce essential nutrients into Ian’s diet. This will be a slow process—allowing his system to slowly adjust to the changes. During a ten-day stay at the hospital, Ian will receive various medical tests to ensure he is safely responding to treatment. By restoring his nutrient levels, KF fully expects Ian to overcome his oedema and begin gaining weight. Ian’s mother shares, “she would like to thank the donors for all their help for all [her] children and especially for the help provided Ian. God bless you.”

Meet 42-year-old Tusabe, a mother of five from Uganda. Tusabe has advanced uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous, fibrous growths in the uterus. “She learnt of this condition when she experienced a miscarriage at 2 months,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Tusabe went to a government hospital, and after a scan examination, she was told that she had grown myomas in her uterus and needed surgery for treatment,” AMHF tells us. “Tusabe decided to go back home, because she did not have the money. She gave up on ever getting treated.” Tusabe’s symptoms have worsened, as she has more lower abdominal pain and bleeding. “Due to this condition, Tusabe was forced to stop working. She stays at home while her husband, a taxi driver, earns for the family,” shares AMHF. “His income is only enough to feed the family.” “If not treated, Tusabe will suffer from chronic pain and is at risk of anemia,” says AMHF. With $165, Tusabe can receive a total abdominal hysterectomy, a surgical procedure that will remove her uterus to resolve her excessive bleeding and pain. This cost covers surgical supplies, medication, hospital materials, medical records, inpatient accommodations, and laboratory work. AMHF adds, “We expect that Tusabe will recover fully. She will be free from the pain and risk of anemia, and will be able to work and assist her husband in providing for their family.” “After treatment, I will be able to look after my children," Tusabe shares.

Meet Chhay, a 60-year-old man from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), shares, "Chhay is married with six sons, two daughters and three grandchildren. He likes to pass the time talking with his various neighbors." Chhay has been diagnosed with hypermature cataracts in both of his eyes. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes clouded as it ages, often distorting the vision of the affected eye. CSC tells us, "Chhay has had cataracts for four years now and has trouble eating, walking and doing other basic things." CSC explains that because of his loss of vision, "Chhay rarely goes outside and can't really do any work for himself or to help his family. Chhay's daughter spends a lot of her time helping him, so she can't do as much work as she would like.” For $225, Chhay will receive cataract surgery in which the clouded lens in each eye will be removed and replaced with a clear lens implant. After surgery, CSC says, "Chhay will be able to see from his left eye and can come back in 1-2 weeks for surgery on his right eye." After his treatment, CSC adds,"Chhay hopes to to return to the farm, be able to go outside by himself and not bother others to escort him places."

61-year-old Koem is a husband, father, and grandfather from Cambodia who works as a salesman. In his free time, he enjoys watching the news on television, listening to the radio, and hearing the monks’ pray. “Koem fell out of a hammock one month ago and fractured his right wrist,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. Koem sought medical care in his province after his fall, but the treatment was unsuccessful, and he continues to experience a lot of pain. “He is unable to work because of his injury,” CSC adds. Treatment for Koem is a surgical procedure known as open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to reposition and set the broken bones in his wrist so that they can heal properly. $405 in funding covers the cost of surgery, a two-week hospital stay, five days of post-operative care (including physiotherapy), and six follow-up appointments during the first year after surgery. “Koem will be able to regain use of his hand and go back to work after his ORIF procedure,” predicts CSC. Koem looks forward to returning to work to earn money to support his family. Let’s help make that happen!

Nineteen-year-old Jeff lives with parents and two sisters in Haiti, and he enjoys singing in his church choir. Currently in the ninth grade at his high school, Jeff would like to become a doctor or engineer. “Jeff was born with a condition called atrial septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart,” our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us. “Blood flows through this hole without passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and out of breath. This condition could become fatal if not treated.” To repair the heart defect, Jeff will undergo cardiac catheterization. In this surgical procedure, doctors use imaging to thread a catheter from the groin to the hole in the heart. They position a mesh patch contained within the catheter to close the hole and then remove the catheter. Over time, heart tissue grows into and around the mesh to permanently close the hole. With $1,500 in funding, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Jeff’s surgery. International Children’s Heart Foundation has donated $5,000 to cover the cost of surgery and post-operative hospital care. HCA shares, “Following closure of the hole in his heart, Jeff should be able to lead a healthy life with no further cardiac symptoms.”